Episode 8. Don't provoke me anymore
When Adele looked around, she was lying on a couch in a room that appeared to be a study.
“What on earth happened...”
As Adele tried to get up from the sofa, Christine pressed his finger to her forehead.
“Lie down more.”
“Ugh!”
Adele, who was struggling to get up, eventually gave up and lay down again. The corners of his mouth slightly went up, perhaps because he found that sight amusing.
“Do you like being bullied?”
“No way. Can’t you see that I’m really worried?”
As Christine brought his face closer, Adele turned her head without realizing it.
“See. Very well. So, can you step back a bit?”
When they met again, Christine seemed to have developed a habit of sticking his face in. Every time, Adele seemed to have developed a habit of turning her head away.
“Fortunately, it seems like you came to your senses.”
He stepped back and handed me a glass of water.
“Drink.”
Adele sat up with Christine's help and emptied her glass of water in one gulp. She was already feeling thirsty.
“What happened earlier?”
Adele's eyebrows furrowed involuntarily at Christine's question. Her memories were patchy, but she remembered being dragged into a room by Eaton, whom she had met in the hallway. And she seemed to have resisted in her own way...
“I don’t know what happened either. I guess I drank too much.”
She decided not to mention that her drink seemed to have been spiked with drugs, because nothing was confirmed yet.
“Thanks for your help anyway, Chris.”
“Shouldn’t it be the man who should be thanking you, not you?”
"Yes?"
“You were about to slit that bastard’s throat.”
Then Christine held out a dagger. Adele looked at the dagger and him in surprise. It was Adele's. Did she take out the dagger too?
“I carry it around for self-defense.”
Adele snatched the dagger from him and lifted her skirt, sticking it into the garter on her thigh.
Christine, who had been watching, whistled softly.
“This is an item fit for a villainess.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Adele had a sour expression on her face, but she actually felt like crying. She kept showing him bad things. She wished he could see her living well.
“Put your right hand out.”
“Why the hand?”
Christine pulled Adele's hesitant hand. There was blood between her thumb and index finger. She had cut her own hand while swinging the knife clumsily.
“Tsk, if you swing it around without knowing how to use it properly, it won’t be for self-defense, it’ll be for self-harm.”
He took out a handkerchief and wrapped Adele's wound.
“But I feel at ease when I carry it with me.”
Christine's hands stopped tying the knot. It meant that there were many threats to her that warranted carrying a knife.
“Well, that kid was scared when he saw the knife earlier, too.”
As soon as the knot was tied, Adele quickly pulled her hand away.
“Still, it would have been dangerous without your help.”
“I didn’t do much. You were swinging your sword wildly, and he was completely asleep. That was the only thing I did when I struck him in the back of the neck and knocked him out.”
Christine shrugged his shoulders and added as if he had just remembered something.
“Oh, it was a bit of a hassle to take off his clothes and tie him up.”
“You stripped him of his clothes and tied him up?”
“Why was he so weak?”
Adele shook her head.
"No."
“Maybe I should have put on some underwear?”
“Underwear? Pfft!”
Adele smiled as she suddenly imagined it. Then Christine's eyes also became faintly playful.
“How can you do such a thing...”
“There is nothing I can’t say in front of a lady!”
“I just said what I saw.”
When the conversation started to take a strange turn, Adele quickly cleared her throat and changed the subject.
“By the way, did you also come at the invitation of Madame Hans?”
"No way."
"...Then?"
“The Princess’ Escort.”
The moment the Princess was mentioned, Adele's heart throbbed. Now that she thinks about it, he was wearing a fancy banquet dress instead of a uniform today. It was only natural that he would pay more attention to his appearance than usual since he was the Princess's partner. As expected, he is the Emperor's son-in-law.
“But how did you know I was here?”
“Because it smelled like you.”
“That’s ridiculous. I wash well. I wash my hair well...”
Adele, however, put her nose against her arm and armpit. Christine couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
“My nose is a bit sensitive.”
“To that extent, you’re not just sensitive, you’re an animal.”
At that moment, he suddenly dragged Adele behind the curtain.
“Wh, what...?”
Her eyes widened in surprise,
"Shhh!"
He put his finger to Adele's lips and nodded to the next room.
“I guess they came looking for that guy.”
The study where the two were was right next to the room where Viscount Eaton was tied up. After a while, the noise of people came closer. As Christine said, it seemed like people had come to look for him. However, there seemed to be more people than expected. She could faintly hear the voices of Seira and Madame Hans. Adele was convinced that all of this was Seira's plan.
“You will definitely connect me with Count Weiss. I will make it happen!”
Did Seira have her servant order the drugged drink? Mia, who knew nothing about it, gave it to her. And even if she had been unlucky enough to be treated badly by Eaton, Seira would have used it as an excuse to blackmail Adele. To make her marry Christine. If she didn’t listen, she would spread rumors that Adele had seduced Eaton. Just like she had done all along. Seira!
Did Seira have her servant order the drugged drink? Mia, who knew nothing about it, gave it to her. And even if she had been unlucky enough to be treated badly by Eaton, Seira would have used it as an excuse to blackmail Adele. To make her marry Christine. If she didn’t listen, she would spread rumors that Adele had seduced Eaton. Just like she had done all along. Seira!
Adele’s hands, which were gripping the curtains, were trembling. But now was the time to hide. It would be no good if she were caught alone with Christine. A moment later, people could be heard screaming from beyond the door.
“Whoa!”
“What is going on!”
Apparently, they found Eaton tied up naked. Of course, Seira wasn't screaming in joy. Meanwhile, Christine opened the window wide.
“Shall we go out for now?”
The cold winter wind blew in, and the curtains fluttered. Countless stars twinkled in the dark night sky. Perhaps the reason the sky felt beautiful in this situation was because of Christine.
"Yes."
He quickly jumped up to the windowsill and held out his hand.
“Catch it.”
Instead of taking his hand, Adele asked.
“Is this the first floor?”
"However?"
“I can overcome this much.”
Adele politely declined his hand and climbed up the windowsill with both hands. However, the floor was sloping, so the distance between the window and the floor was higher than she had thought.
“Can you help me now?”
"It's okay!"
“Even if my ankle is sprained, you won’t pick me up?”
“You watch out!”
Adele, clutching the hem of her skirt, lightly jumped down. Then she looked back at Christine and smiled brightly. Her black hair fluttered in the winter wind. She looked just like the girl from ten years ago.
“Whoa!”
“What is going on!”
Apparently, they found Eaton tied up naked. Of course, Seira wasn't screaming in joy. Meanwhile, Christine opened the window wide.
“Shall we go out for now?”
The cold winter wind blew in, and the curtains fluttered. Countless stars twinkled in the dark night sky. Perhaps the reason the sky felt beautiful in this situation was because of Christine.
"Yes."
He quickly jumped up to the windowsill and held out his hand.
“Catch it.”
Instead of taking his hand, Adele asked.
“Is this the first floor?”
"However?"
“I can overcome this much.”
Adele politely declined his hand and climbed up the windowsill with both hands. However, the floor was sloping, so the distance between the window and the floor was higher than she had thought.
“Can you help me now?”
"It's okay!"
“Even if my ankle is sprained, you won’t pick me up?”
“You watch out!”
Adele, clutching the hem of her skirt, lightly jumped down. Then she looked back at Christine and smiled brightly. Her black hair fluttered in the winter wind. She looked just like the girl from ten years ago.
Now that he thinks about it, Adele used to play quite well with the boys. That beautiful girl who ran freely to the mountains and rivers with her green eyes that resembled the forest...
***
The two of them went outside and walked around the fountain in the garden. The water was frozen because it was winter, but the lanterns were brightly lit here and there, giving it a certain charm. The only downside was the cold, so Christine took off his jacket and put it over Adele’s shoulders.
"Thank you."
“No problem.”
His clothes were larger and heavier than shr thought, but they were very warm because they were heated by his body temperature.
“Oh, by the way, I’ve agreed to deliver desserts to the royal family.”
Adele spoke first.
“That’s good.”
“By any chance... You didn’t ask for it, did you?”
When Adele asked hesitantly, Christine was firm.
“Neither the Emperor nor I has the leisure to mention such things.”
“Yes then.”
Adele smiled pleasantly. It meant that her skills had truly caught the Emperor's fancy.
“Still, my favorable reviews must have played a big role in moving the Emperor’s heart. He trusted me completely.”
“Oh, what are you talking about? My dessert has tickled His Majesty’s taste buds.”
“Then should I say it’s terribly tasteless this time?”
“No problem.”
His clothes were larger and heavier than shr thought, but they were very warm because they were heated by his body temperature.
“Oh, by the way, I’ve agreed to deliver desserts to the royal family.”
Adele spoke first.
“That’s good.”
“By any chance... You didn’t ask for it, did you?”
When Adele asked hesitantly, Christine was firm.
“Neither the Emperor nor I has the leisure to mention such things.”
“Yes then.”
Adele smiled pleasantly. It meant that her skills had truly caught the Emperor's fancy.
“Still, my favorable reviews must have played a big role in moving the Emperor’s heart. He trusted me completely.”
“Oh, what are you talking about? My dessert has tickled His Majesty’s taste buds.”
“Then should I say it’s terribly tasteless this time?”
"Chris!"
Adele, who had been screaming without realizing it, was surprised. As she did this, she started acting as if she were as shy as before. Whenever she met him, she did it naturally. She felt like she had become the girl from back then, as if the past ten years had evaporated somewhere.
“So you admit that I helped you a lot?”
“Not a big deal, just a little.”
“Really just a little?”
“A little bit... a little bit more?”
“Anyway, you admit that you received help?”
"I admit."
“Then what should you do when you receive help?”
Adele looked at Christine with an ominous expression.
Adele, who had been screaming without realizing it, was surprised. As she did this, she started acting as if she were as shy as before. Whenever she met him, she did it naturally. She felt like she had become the girl from back then, as if the past ten years had evaporated somewhere.
“So you admit that I helped you a lot?”
“Not a big deal, just a little.”
“Really just a little?”
“A little bit... a little bit more?”
“Anyway, you admit that you received help?”
"I admit."
“Then what should you do when you receive help?”
Adele looked at Christine with an ominous expression.
“...A thank you?”
“They say nobles don’t greet people with their mouths open.”
“Wow, you’ve become so corrupt since becoming a noble. They said you were rich. They say the rich get richer...”
Adele looked shocked, but Christine wouldn't give an inch.
“You are the one who should stop trying to beat me with words. Make an effort to show sincerity. Make an effort.”
“So what do you want?”
“Apple pie.”
At that moment, Adele's face hardened. Christine also muttered with a face full of longing.
“The apple pie your mother made was really delicious. I think about it sometimes.”
Her expression darkened as if she were about to cry at the word 'mother'.
“That’s right. If I had known, I would have learned more of Mom’s recipes.”
If she had known they would break up so suddenly.
"It’s okay if it doesn’t taste like that. I still want to eat the pie you made.”
“Yes, I’ll make it and send it to you. Just tell me where to send it.”
Christine shook her head.
“Invite me.”
"That..."
His eyes narrowed as Adele trailed off.
“Are you afraid that some strange rumor will spread in this small town?”
“No, but rather, if the Princess misunderstands...”
“What does the Princess have to do with it?”
"Uh?"
“You were the one who told the neighborhood about me. That I was like your own little brother.”
The rumor also reached Christine's ears.
“Well... that’s not wrong.”
But why is the voice so quiet?
“So it wouldn’t be strange if I came and went from your house. I’m like your brother.”
"Chris."
For a moment, the corners of Christine's mouth rose coldly. That alone made his expression quickly turn cold.
“Why don’t you just be honest? I don’t want you to be misunderstood by your man.”
My man? Oh, come to think of it, Adele forgot. There was also a rumor going around that Adele was remarrying.
“But you know what? The more you push me away, the more I want to be mean to you.”
The deep blue-gray eyes sparkling in the moonlight were threatening. Christine, who had just felt like the child he was ten years ago, now seemed so unfamiliar and even scary. Did he still not forgive her?
“So don’t provoke me anymore, Adele.”
A voice that sounded eerie, like a warning. And Christine turned away. Feeling the chill of the cold winter wind, Adele wrapped herself up. She didn't know why his once warm jacket was so uncomfortable now.
“They say nobles don’t greet people with their mouths open.”
“Wow, you’ve become so corrupt since becoming a noble. They said you were rich. They say the rich get richer...”
Adele looked shocked, but Christine wouldn't give an inch.
“You are the one who should stop trying to beat me with words. Make an effort to show sincerity. Make an effort.”
“So what do you want?”
“Apple pie.”
At that moment, Adele's face hardened. Christine also muttered with a face full of longing.
“The apple pie your mother made was really delicious. I think about it sometimes.”
Her expression darkened as if she were about to cry at the word 'mother'.
“That’s right. If I had known, I would have learned more of Mom’s recipes.”
If she had known they would break up so suddenly.
"It’s okay if it doesn’t taste like that. I still want to eat the pie you made.”
“Yes, I’ll make it and send it to you. Just tell me where to send it.”
Christine shook her head.
“Invite me.”
"That..."
His eyes narrowed as Adele trailed off.
“Are you afraid that some strange rumor will spread in this small town?”
“No, but rather, if the Princess misunderstands...”
“What does the Princess have to do with it?”
"Uh?"
“You were the one who told the neighborhood about me. That I was like your own little brother.”
The rumor also reached Christine's ears.
“Well... that’s not wrong.”
But why is the voice so quiet?
“So it wouldn’t be strange if I came and went from your house. I’m like your brother.”
"Chris."
For a moment, the corners of Christine's mouth rose coldly. That alone made his expression quickly turn cold.
“Why don’t you just be honest? I don’t want you to be misunderstood by your man.”
My man? Oh, come to think of it, Adele forgot. There was also a rumor going around that Adele was remarrying.
“But you know what? The more you push me away, the more I want to be mean to you.”
The deep blue-gray eyes sparkling in the moonlight were threatening. Christine, who had just felt like the child he was ten years ago, now seemed so unfamiliar and even scary. Did he still not forgive her?
“So don’t provoke me anymore, Adele.”
A voice that sounded eerie, like a warning. And Christine turned away. Feeling the chill of the cold winter wind, Adele wrapped herself up. She didn't know why his once warm jacket was so uncomfortable now.
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